Center for Crop Diversification Crop Profile CCD-CP-16 Plasticulture Strawberries Shawn Wright1 and Matt Ernst2 Introduction Fresh strawberries (Fragaria spp.) are a consumer fa- vorite, and growers able to provide the earliest local strawberry crop often have the marketing edge. The annual plasticulture system can produce strawberries in Kentucky about one month sooner than the tradi- tional matted row system. This can give an advantage to growers willing to invest time and resources into annual plasticulture strawberry production, which can either be used as a stand-alone enterprise or as part of a diversified operation. However, plasticulture produc- tion requires careful attention to details and involves more risk than matted row production due to earlier fruit ripening and a greater potential for frost losses. stronger wholesale fresh strawberry prices in the early Marketing 2010s, helping producers match higher costs of pro- Direct markets such as on-farm retail markets, road- duction. side stands, farmers markets and community sup- ported agriculture (CSA) are popular ways to market While small fruit producers nationwide are experienc- strawberries. For producers with other crops to sell, ing a decline in the demand for U-Pick berries, there plasticulture strawberries can bring consumers earlier is an increasing demand for an already-picked local in the season, helping attract customers throughout the product. Locally produced strawberries are plant-rip- year. Early season strawberries could also be marketed ened and full flavored, which can reinforce their ap- wholesale to restaurants and institutional foodservice, peal to consumers. About 220 acres of strawberries grocery chains, independent grocers and through pro- were harvested in Kentucky in 2012. This acreage duce auctions. Some strawberries grown in Kentucky likely increased slightly in the years following, based are sold on a U-Pick basis, and plasticulture strawber- on producer interviews and farmers market and auc- ries could extend the season for U-Pick marketing. tion price reports. Demand increase appears greatest for pre-picked berries. Market Outlook U.S. fresh strawberry use increased from Production Considerations about 6 pounds per capita in 2001 to 8 Site selection pounds in 2016. Increased availability of The annual plasticulture system can be fresh strawberries year-round, including used on sites that are appropriate for imported berries, helped drive up con- matted row production, but a sandy loam sumption. Consumer demand supported www.uky.edu/CCD soil works best for building and shaping 1Shawn Wright is a Horticulture Specialist with the University of Kentucky Department of Horticulture. 2Matt Ernst is an independent contractor with the Center for Crop Diversification. Cooperative Extension Service | Agriculture and Natural Resources | Family and Consumer Sciences | 4-H Youth Development | Community and Economic Development the 8-inch raised beds that are critical for success. ter weather. University of Kentucky researchers are Avoid fields that have recently been in potatoes, to- testing multiple applications of lighter weight fabric, bacco, peppers, eggplants or tomatoes due to potential but a good “standard” is 1.5 ounces per square yard problems with Verticillium wilt. A reliable water sup- total. This can be applied either with a single layer or ply needs to be available for injection of fertilizers in as two separate lighter-weight layers. the early spring, and some growers will use overhead irrigation for frost protection. Most growers are rely- Pest management ing on floating row covers that provide about 4 to 6 Anthracnose can be a problem in plasticulture straw- degrees F of frost protection. berries and growers should carefully examine runner tips or plugs and treat as needed. Botrytis blossom Cultivar selection blight and fruit rot is always a concern in strawberries, Chandler and Camerosa are two of the most common regardless of the production method. Soil-borne dis- varieties used in this system. Standard eastern variet- eases, such as leather rot, do not tend to be a problem ies do not work as well because of their smaller fruit in plasticulture systems as long as the beds are high size, softer berries, and low early season production. enough to prevent splashing soil from contacting sus- It is worth looking at varieties that perform well for ceptible tissues. Other than sap beetles, insects have growers in North Carolina, Virginia, Florida and Cali- not been a significant problem in Kentucky; however, fornia. growers should still scout for pests and be prepared to treat if needed. Sap beetles are found if strawber- Planting and maintenance ries get too ripe and accumulate in the field, so thor- Preparation begins in early July when the grower or- ough picking of ripe berries is the best control method. ders runner tips or plugs. A few growers are looking Crop rotation and integrated pest management (IPM) at cutting their own runner tips from stock plants, but practices will help the grower remain profitable by in- it is very important that the stock plants and tips are hibiting soil-borne diseases and nematodes. The Mid- disease free, and it is difficult to produce disease free west Small Fruit Pest Management Handbook is an tips in Kentucky because of the disease pressure. For excellent resource for identifying diseases and insects. central Kentucky, a planting date of September 10 to Refer to the Midwest Fruit Pest Management Guide September 20 is recommended. Western Kentucky for current pesticide recommendations. Other pests in- can delay planting a few days longer, and in eastern clude Canada geese, deer and slugs, which can cause Kentucky planting can begin a few days earlier. Plant- serious damage in some sites. Deer can be a problem ing too early will result in excess runner production at planting and throughout the winter, so temporary at the expense of new crown formation, and planting electric fencing may be a wise investment. too late will severely limit yields. You will want 4-5- week-old plug plants to take to the field, so plan ac- cordingly when ordering planting material. Harvest and storage The harvest season begins in early to mid-May and In early August, raised beds are formed with a bed- can last for up to five weeks if more than one variety shaper designed specifically for deep plasticulture is planted and the weather remains cool. Only fully beds (28 to 30 inches wide on top, 8 inches tall) and colored strawberries at their peak of flavor should be covered with 60-inch-wide 1.25 mil plastic film. It is harvested since quality will not improve after harvest. necessary to pre-bed prior to the final plastic laying Refrigeration will be needed for berries that are stored to obtain firm beds that do not collapse in the middle. for a few hours or longer. Strawberries are usually Drip tube is placed under the plastic at the same time sold in pint and quart plastic or fiber pulp containers. the plastic is laid. One-half of the recommended nu- trients can be applied prior to bed forming, and the Labor requirements remainder is usually injected at weekly intervals be- Labor requirements for strawberry production com- ginning in the spring after row cover removal. pare favorably with those for tobacco. Establishment and harvest requires approximately 300 to 500 hours In late November the beds are covered with a floating per acre depending on if the grower produces their row cover. The optimum weight is dependent on win- own plugs from runner tips or buys plug plants. Economic Considerations • Midwest Fruit Pest Management Guide, ID-232 The investment for annual plasticulture strawberries is (University of Kentucky and Midwest Fruit Workers higher than for matted row production because of the Group, 2019-20) https://ag.purdue.edu/hla/Hort/ higher and recurring cost of the plants; however, there Pages/sfg_sprayguide.aspx is the potential for greater yield and a higher return • Midwest Small Fruit Pest Management Handbook, per unit than for matted row berries. The investment B-861 (University of Kentucky and Midwest Fruit for strawberry production can initially be high primar- Workers Group, 2004) http://plantpathology.ca.uky. ily due to the costs of land preparation, planting, and edu/files/mw_sm_fruit_pest_mngmt.pdf the installation of an irrigation system. Row covers • Strawberry Production in Kentucky, HO-16 for frost protection and pest control, especially where (University of Kentucky, 2007) http://www.ca.uky. deer control is required, are additional costs. One way edu/agc/pubs/ho/ho16/ho16.pdf to recover additional costs of plasticulture production • Southern Region Small Fruit Consortium: is to follow the strawberry crop with another crop on Strawberries (Clemson University, North Carolina the plastic to capture residual nutrients and distribute State University, Virginia Tech, University of costs of the plastic over more than one enterprise. Cu- Arkansas, University of Georgia, University of curbit crops are a common second crop. Tennessee) http://www.smallfruits.org/crops/ strawberries.html Total costs will vary with production volume and may • Southeast Regional Strawberry Integrated Pest exceed $15,000 per acre. Since returns can vary de- Management Guide (Southern Region Small Fruit pending on actual yields and market prices, the fol- Consortium, 2017) http://www.smallfruits.org/ lowing estimated returns per acre to land and manage- assets/documents/ipm-guides/2017/2017StrawberryI ment are based on three different economic scenarios. PMGuide_Final.pdf These estimates assume that the costs of depreciable • Southeast Regional Strawberry Plasticulture materials (such as row covers, irrigation equipment Production Guide (North Carolina State University, and deer fencing) are evenly distributed over four to University of Georgia, and Clemson University, five years. It may take one or more seasons to generate 2005) http://www.smallfruits.org/assets/documents/ adequate income to cover such costs; producers able ipm-guides/2005culturalguidepart1bs1.pdf to produce more than one crop on the plastic could • Strawberries: Organic Production (ATTRA, 2007) recoup these costs more quickly.